Greyhound Clubs Australia has advised that this year’s National Championships to be held in Sydney has today been cancelled.
With uncertainty due to COVID-19, GCA said it was left with no option but to abandon plans to host the event which would have been conducted at Wentworth Park in late August.
“It will be the first time the Nationals haven’t been held since the concept’s commencement in 1965,” said GCA Chairman Les Bein.
“Whilst we are very disappointed, the health and well-being of our participants is of utmost priority.”
The cancellation follows on-going consultation and the unanimous agreement of host club NSW GBOTA, GRNSW and Greyhounds Australasia.
“It will be at the discretion of the various jurisdictions as to whether State series are still run and that advice will come from individual controlling authorities in due course,” Bein said.
2019/20 GCA Group Racing Calendar – Altered Conditions
GCA has also decided to relax conditions for the remainder of the 2019/20 GCA Group Racing calendar.
This will enable scheduled Group events to be conducted at discretionary prizemoney levels and formats.
“GCA hopes that States and Clubs will continue to hold their major races and we will be flexible to make that as easy as possible,” Bein said.
The 2020/21 Calendar will also reflect the ever-changing environment.
“We are very aware that running events at pre COVID-19 prizemoney levels may be beyond the financial capabilities of many clubs and that travel restrictions will necessitate alterations to the way races are formatted,” Bein said.
GCA will continue to work closely with state co-ordinators to achieve the best outcome for all stakeholders.